Kristen Wise joins us as the VP of US Initiatives and Adrian Ballou brings their skills as our new Community Engagement Program Manager. Read more about each below:

Kristen WiseVP, US Initiatives
Kristen is a trusted thought partner and collaborator with a diversified toolbox who thrives at the intersection of culture and social impact. For fifteen-years, her professional progression has evolved between consumer and philanthropic movements. With a focus on strategy, marketing, communications and partnerships, Kristen has worked with and alongside global brands including Coca-Cola, Special Olympics, The Clinton Foundation, Powerade, adidas, Nike, Jordan Brand, LVMH, Stella McCartney, and America Scores. Her distinctively community-centric and compassionate contributions to business have been felt at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games, 2012 London Olympics, 2010 FIFA World Cup, and four NBA-All-Star Weekends. Kristen is a graduate of Boston University, a 2016 Bleeker Fellow, and lifelong athlete who cultivates mindfulness within business through the lens of a 300-hour certification with Jivamukti Yoga and 25-hour certification with Mindfresh.

Adrian BallouProgram Manager, Community Engagement
Adrian has founded or led six different youth programs and has been involved in social change and facilitation work for over ten years, working on programs ranging from farming and food justice, youth spiritual leadership, and peer mediation and social justice education programs in schools. They also do communications work and cultural journalism focused on trans and non-binary issues with Everyday Feminism. Adrian has spoken at/had their writing taught nationally and internationally at non-profits, high schools, and colleges. They have organized with campaigns surrounding various issues, including racial profiling, government surveillance, immigration, and foreclosure and housing justice. Adrian has worked with a variety of organizations, including various schools, the American Friends Service Committee, and Civil Liberties and Public Policy; and they co-founded the Alphabet Soup Care Collective, which supports disabled LGBTQIA+ community. They care deeply about building adult solidarity with youth to end adultism and all forms of intersectional oppression.